Super Eagles manager, Éric Chelle has described the U20 Africa Cup of Nations as a ‘laboratory for the future.”

The remark came from the coach who is in Egypt to monitor the players of the Nigerian side.

He spoke to CAFOnline as he expressed his views on the competition and applauded the Nigerians for progressing to the next stage.

“I’m very happy with our U20 team’s qualification. It wasn’t an easy match because we were up against a very good team (Kenya). We reacted in this match. Every time we conceded a goal, the team responded well.”

The performance wasn’t perfect, Chelle knows. He bluntly points to a physical deficit. “I felt we were a little tired. “It’s true that we struggled with our attacking play, but it was a very interesting match to watch.”

Adding to his views on qualification, the coach emphasised that the importance of this tournament goes far beyond results.

“U20 are 19-year-olds, 18-year-olds. These are players who, in a year, or even two years, will be in their country’s senior national team. There are good players in this team, there are some in the Kenyan team too. I think it’s good to come and watch”, says the former Mali coach.

What has impressed Chelle even more is the overall framework in which young players are evolving today. The former defender, now a renowned technician, is full of praise for the CAF

“I was very pleased to see CAF technicians in the stands analysing the matches. I think CAF is trying to progress, to bring things that are helping our football in Africa to progress.”

For Chelle, these developments are shaping a more credible, more modern, and above all, more ambitious African football.

“We have to make sure we have very strong football, so that we become the number one.”

While the Nigerian U-20s may not yet possess the collective rigour of a seasoned team, they have already awakened the pride of a demanding coach.

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 Nigeria booked their place in the quarterfinals of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Kenya at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday.

The result, coupled with Morocco’s 3-1 win over Tunisia in the simultaneous Group B fixture, means Nigeria finish second in the group with five points, while Kenya exits the tournament with just one point from three matches.

Despite already being eliminated before kick-off, Kenya put up a spirited performance and twice took the lead, only to be pegged back each time by the more experienced Nigerians.

Kevin Injehu gave the East Africans a dream start when he calmly slotted home a sixth-minute penalty after Emmanuel Chukwu was penalised for a handball inside the box following a VAR review.

Nigeria responded swiftly, and Kparobo Arierhi restored parity in the 13th minute with a composed finish from close range after latching onto Simon Cletus’ through ball.

Both sides continued to create chances, and Kenya stunned the Nigerians again midway through the second half when substitute William Gitama finished off a well-worked set-piece in the 68th minute to make it 2-1.

But their joy was short-lived. Just five minutes later, captain Daniel Bameyi converted a penalty after Rickson Mendos was fouled in the area by Lawrence Ouma, drawing Nigeria level once more.

Nigeria pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Divine Oliseh and Tahir Maigana both going close, but Kenya’s defence held firm.

The West Africans, who had kept two clean sheets in their previous games, were made to work harder than expected by a Kenyan side that showed attacking intent throughout the match.

Kenya’s exit is confirmed after picking up only one point from three games, despite scoring in all three matches.

With the group stage now concluded, Morocco top Group B with seven points, followed by Nigeria (5), Tunisia (3), and Kenya (1).

Nigeria will now shift focus to the quarter-finals, where they will face a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent from another group.

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 BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Flying Eagles face Kenya this Wednesday evening in Egypt to mark their last Group C engagement in the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations.

It is not just one of the routine matches, it is pregnant with impressions. Not only is the match marking the 100^th for the Nigerian team in the competition’s history, but it will be a tribute to one of Nigeria’s football eternal heroes, the late Rashidi Yekini.

The match is coming up three days after the 13^th anniversary of the legendary footballer’s death.  

Yekini, even in death, remained Nigeria’s all-time top scorer. He scored 37 goals for Nigeria in 62 matches.

The first of those goals came nearly after a dozen appearances for Nigeria, and it was against Kenya in a 1986 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi.

Flying Eagles’ match with Kenya this Wednesday is coming 40 years, one month and a day after Yekini’s maiden goal for Nigeria. A Flying Eagles win could be a befitting tribute to the Nigerian hero.

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